Police officers' sacrifice honoured

Hundreds of relatives and colleagues of police officers killed in the line of duty gathered from across the UK for a special memorial service.

They were joined by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Police Minister Tony McNulty and senior law officers in Edinburgh for the ceremony to mark National Police Memorial Day.

An invited audience of almost 1000 people heard speeches from senior police officers and readings from the leaders of Scotland's main religious groups.

In her welcoming address, Scotland's Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini said: "For the public at large it can be all too easy to take the police for granted and forget that policing can result in serious injury and death.

"It is only when a serious incident occurs that these dangers are brought into sharp focus - for most of you here today, of course, that is not the case."

She added: "That is why it is important that we as a nation should have a day set aside for which to remember the sacrifices made by police officers on our behalf.

"And it is right that we should take this opportunity to pause and reflect on the courage shown by our police officers in carrying out their day to day duties."

Performances by pipers and local choirs gave the event, held north of the border for the first time, a particularly Scottish feel.

During the service four candles representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were lit by relatives of officers who have died from each force.

That was followed by a minute's silence during which 4000 blue and green petals were dropped from the gantry, representing the number of officers killed in the line of duty in the UK police's 177-year history.